A POPULAR radio DJ axed as part of the BBC's cuts claims he only found out he would be leaving in a staff newsletter.
BBC Essex star Eric Hall's popular Monster Memories show has been cut in a major restructuring of the station's schedule, which will also see veteran Steve Scruton replaced, along with weekend breakfast show DJ Ian Wyatt.
Although Mr Hall says BBC editor Gerald Main had told him his show might have to go, he hoped he might be able to stay on in some capacity, until he saw a newsletter apparently saying his 2-4pm slot on Sunday would be replaced by a region-wide show.
"I was told the show might have to go, but not necessarily me, the presenter of it," he told the Chronicle.
"I love doing that show and without wanting to sound big-headed, it's one of the most successful on BBC Essex.
"I was a casualty, that's a fact. I don't blame Gerald, he's a lovely man. I just think they could have made room for me elsewhere.
"If they really wanted me, they could have found me something.
"I was expecting something because of the cutbacks, but it was still a shock.
"I thought the format worked and the show seemed popular. I really built up the audience."
After announcing he was leaving the BBC on his show on Sunday, December 16, the part-timer said more than 200 people rang up to complain about his departure and those calls continued over the next few days, even to the Chronicle news desk.
"A lot of listeners are unhappy about it. I'm annoyed, but sad as well. It's unbelievable and I'm still in shock.
"My listeners are like my family, there's nothing now to cater for that audience."
Hall, from Loughton, has been a BBC Essex presenter for 12 years but his radio career stretches back 20 years, including stints on LBC and Talk Radio.
He found fame as a show business and football agent in the 1990s, using his contacts to get special guests for his Monster Memories show.
Cliff Richard, Cilla Black, Bette Midler and Frankie Lane are amongst the stars who have guested on the show.
He's already been offered a new deal by another station, but he is still considering his options ahead of his last show for BBC Essex this Sunday.
"I'm choked because I love the people I work with at the BBC and the listeners. But I'm a pro and the show must go on. So I'll do a nice show and thank everyone for listening one last time."
The BBC first announced cost-cutting measures in October 2011 in which they said the station could lose local shows in favour of sharing afternoon, evening and weekend shows.
But, in February, Lord Patten ordered the corporation to rethink the cutbacks after thousands of complaints from listeners.
Now BBC Essex will keep more of its local content (between 6am and 7pm weekdays) with some of the shared regional programmes being done from Writtle Road, Chelmsford, anyway.
A spokesman said: "The changes to BBC local radio announced in 2012 will come into effect from January 2013.
"As a result there will be some changes to local radio schedules. From the new year, BBC Essex will be sharing programmes on Sunday afternoons with other BBC stations in the East.
"Eric Hall's weekly Monster Memories programme will be broadcast for the final time on Sunday, 30th December.
Eric has been a popular presenter on BBC Essex over a number of years and we hope to continue working with him in the future."
